Nests Iteration 4 to Front Roll Away style

[Ted Brown]

I expanded my 3+ year old flock in 2023, added 12 Chanteclers and 8 mixed coloured egg layers. I moved 5 males to an external cage but multiple males amongst other pressures arising from increased flock size required a change/expansion to my nest box arrangement.

This is what I had (actually not quite there are four red nests):



About mid-point of the new build here is where I am now:



I have an egg eating problem so the new nests are/will be roll away to the front. Bottom plywood floor panel slants 3" over 20"; nests are 12" deep behind red fascia & 12" wide 16' high.

I had only 30' of roost space with close to 30 birds; some birds were sleeping in the upper two white nests; those nests are now gone. I will add 3 nests to the right of the 4 hole fascia. I have already replaced a 36" roost with a 90" roost and wider (21") drop board that doubles as the top of the nests.

I am re-using whatever I can, consequence is new nests are "kit-like" in that it is assembled and can come apart in several sub -sections. I have yet to build a second new fascia with 3 (I hope) holes; will then build the roll away upper box with lid to sit on the front floor extension.

 

[Ted Brown]

Plus 3 nest holes...

I continue to cut/fit pieces and sections and "dry fit" together. Below the front extension piece for 3 more nests, total of 7.

Also building nest dividers: will attach to back wall using two narrow 7' boards, horizontally top and bottom, with slots cut vertically; final assembly these will be attached before the red front pieces and front egg box.

On a happy note. In the past 3 days I have had about 25 eggs all laid left side of roll away - none broken, dented or eaten!

 

[aart]

The thing I keep thinking is...make it adjustable, or easy to modify/adjust, both the egg opening and the slope.

 

[TexasBlues]

So the egg gap is about 2-1/2 to 2-3/4 deep and the distance to the back wall is about 9 inches.
I didn’t want any chance of them reaching the eggs.
I’m going to replace the turf material because it has wrinkles that don’t allow the eggs to roll unimpeded.

 

[Ted Brown]

Life interfered: along the back of my pole shed I store firewood, the top part fell onto my bachelor cage; it took most of yesterday to move the wood and repair damage.

My artificial grass rug arrived, 2' by 8' edges bound; revised nest box floor is 20" by 7'.

Began to build the egg capture box - a 3 sided flat "U" made from cedar boards temporarily in place, rug down per @TexasBlues last pic above (thank you!!). I test rolled 4 eggs with a 2 1/4" opening, 2 went through; i will trim to make the opening 3" and increase the slope.

The 24" rug width allows me to roll up the front 4" to be the egg cushion.

 

[Ted Brown]

The egg box cover is two 5 1/2 inch by 7 foot panels; one of 3/4" pine the other of door skin (1/8" ply board); joined together with 3 hinges. I added a 1"x1" to one edge of 1/8" panel for rigidity, strength and hinge mount space. Currently "dry fit" in place and working well.

Artificial grass cut & fit in place "perfectly"; every egg rolling under entrance to lowest point; no broken eggs thus far.

 

[TexasBlues]

The flooring material will take up some of that space and some people put a curtain like material on the separator board. I’ll measure mine and see how big of a gap I used. I had to adjust mine to add more space after the initial build.

 

[Ted Brown]

Thank you so much for sharing, I've always loved your coop!! Glad this is working out, it's a great design. Question about the artificial grass: Do they peck at it, try to eat it? Mine are so in love with purple insulation and anything nonedible that I wonder how they'd react to the grass. I just made new nest boxes and I'd really like to try it.....

Thank you.

This project evolved against the issues I had. I re-used the front red panel (my copy of @aart 's nest box - thank you) from my iteration 2, will extend it by 32" with 3 more round holes.

Yes there is some pecking, the same as they peck at the straw I previously used. I do not have enough experience to know if they will tear it apart and ingest, it is tough stuff but I will keep my eyes open.

It does not really show in the pictures but the way I built the roll out I can slide the rug in/out as one piece easily. Should encourage keeping it clean.

 

[Ted Brown]

Pictures from dusk today as the flock is settling. Still a story being written...

 

[Ted Brown]

Rattle can red...